FBI expands agents’ investigative power

Feuer Frei! · 06-14-11, 07:08 AM

Washington • The Federal Bureau of Investigation is giving significant new powers to its roughly 14,000 agents — allowing them more leeway to search databases, go through household trash or use surveillance teams to scrutinize the lives of people who have attracted their attention.
The FBI soon plans to issue a new edition of its manual, called the Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide, according to an official who has worked on the draft document and several others who have been briefed on its contents. The new rules add to several measures taken over the past decade to give agents more latitude as they search for signs of criminal or terrorist activity.
The FBI recently briefed several privacy advocates about the coming changes. Among them, Michael German, a former FBI agent who is now a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, argued it was unwise to further ease restrictions on agents’ power to use potentially intrusive techniques, especially if they lacked a firm reason to suspect someone of wrongdoing.
"Claiming additional authorities to investigate people only further raises the potential for abuse," German said, pointing to complaints about the bureau’s surveillance of domestic political advocacy groups and mosques and to an inspector general’s findings in 2007 that the FBI had improperly used "national security letters" to obtain information like people’s phone bills.
Valerie E. Caproni, the FBI general counsel, said the bureau had fixed the problems with the national security letters and had taken steps to make sure they would not recur. She also said the bureau — which does not need permission to alter its manual so long as the rules fit within broad guidelines issued by the attorney general — had carefully weighed the risks and the benefits of each change.
Some of the most notable changes apply to the lowest category of investigations, called an "assessment." The category, created in December 2008, allows agents to look into people and organizations "proactively" and without firm evidence for suspecting criminal or terrorist activity.
Under current rules, agents must open such an inquiry before they can search for information about a person in a commercial or law enforcement database. Under the new rules, agents will be allowed to search such databases without making a record about their decision.

SOURCE

Gerald · 06-14-11, 10:10 AM

I would like to say that these guidelines are not exactly new, but follows the otherwise fixed line, with increasing power, because the Agency has over 35,000 employees in the U.S, plus other working operating in other countries, so will this increase does not mean no change, for the American citizen.

MH · 06-14-11, 10:14 AM

I always thought it was crazy Bush's administration thing lol.

Gerald · 06-14-11, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MH

I always thought it was crazy Bush's administration thing lol.

But, it is not........lol.

Rockstar · 06-14-11, 11:14 AM

Man you people are so gullible. Yes, Bush is directing the nation and it's armies from his C3I lair 500 feet beneath the battleship museum TEXAS. And yes Cheney is still in control of the weather machine.

MH · 06-14-11, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Man you people are so gullible. Yes, Bush is directing the nation and it's armies from his C3I lair 500 feet beneath the battleship museum TEXAS. And yes Cheney is still in control of the weather machine.

I was ironic/sarcastic here about the issue.

Platapus · 06-14-11, 07:50 PM

J Edgar would be proud.

em2nought · 06-14-11, 09:25 PM

To anyone monitoring this thread "I am not a threat". I loathe what we have become, but all I plan to do is expatriate.

FIREWALL · 06-14-11, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Man you people are so gullible. Yes, Bush is directing the nation and it's armies from his C3I lair 500 feet beneath the battleship museum TEXAS. And yes Cheney is still in control of the weather machine.

nikimcbee · 06-15-11, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Man you people are so gullible. Yes, Bush is directing the nation and it's armies from his C3I lair 500 feet beneath the battleship museum TEXAS. And yes Cheney is still in control of the weather machine.

Cheney is so yesterday. Kids these days are into Palin. Whatever happened to Halliburton and Ruuuuuuumsfeld? No doubt killing kittens or stealing little kids candy.

Thank god we have the bamster to save us from them.

06-14-11, 07:08 AM	#1
Feuer Frei! Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Valhalla Posts: 5,295 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 17	FBI expands agents’ investigative power Washington • The Federal Bureau of Investigation is giving significant new powers to its roughly 14,000 agents — allowing them more leeway to search databases, go through household trash or use surveillance teams to scrutinize the lives of people who have attracted their attention. The FBI soon plans to issue a new edition of its manual, called the Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide, according to an official who has worked on the draft document and several others who have been briefed on its contents. The new rules add to several measures taken over the past decade to give agents more latitude as they search for signs of criminal or terrorist activity. The FBI recently briefed several privacy advocates about the coming changes. Among them, Michael German, a former FBI agent who is now a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, argued it was unwise to further ease restrictions on agents’ power to use potentially intrusive techniques, especially if they lacked a firm reason to suspect someone of wrongdoing. "Claiming additional authorities to investigate people only further raises the potential for abuse," German said, pointing to complaints about the bureau’s surveillance of domestic political advocacy groups and mosques and to an inspector general’s findings in 2007 that the FBI had improperly used "national security letters" to obtain information like people’s phone bills. Valerie E. Caproni, the FBI general counsel, said the bureau had fixed the problems with the national security letters and had taken steps to make sure they would not recur. She also said the bureau — which does not need permission to alter its manual so long as the rules fit within broad guidelines issued by the attorney general — had carefully weighed the risks and the benefits of each change. Some of the most notable changes apply to the lowest category of investigations, called an "assessment." The category, created in December 2008, allows agents to look into people and organizations "proactively" and without firm evidence for suspecting criminal or terrorist activity. Under current rules, agents must open such an inquiry before they can search for information about a person in a commercial or law enforcement database. Under the new rules, agents will be allowed to search such databases without making a record about their decision. SOURCE __________________ "History is the lies that the victors agree on"- Napoleon LINK TO MY SH 3 MODS

06-14-11, 10:10 AM	#2
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	I would like to say that these guidelines are not exactly new, but follows the otherwise fixed line, with increasing power, because the Agency has over 35,000 employees in the U.S, plus other working operating in other countries, so will this increase does not mean no change, for the American citizen. __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

06-14-11, 07:50 PM	#7
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,360 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	J Edgar would be proud. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

06-14-11, 09:25 PM	#8
em2nought Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,485 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	To anyone monitoring this thread "I am not a threat". I loathe what we have become, but all I plan to do is expatriate. __________________ em2nought is ecstatic garbage!

06-14-11, 10:14 AM	#3
MH Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 3,184 Downloads: 248 Uploads: 0	I always thought it was crazy Bush's administration thing lol.

06-14-11, 11:14 AM	#5
Rockstar In the Brig Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Zendia Bar & Grill Posts: 12,614 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Man you people are so gullible. Yes, Bush is directing the nation and it's armies from his C3I lair 500 feet beneath the battleship museum TEXAS. And yes Cheney is still in control of the weather machine.